The British Rails.



303



old.” But I was wrong ! and now three fine young Conures are

sitting in a nice tidy run with their proud parents. The first

came out of the nest on July 24th ; the second a week later, on

the 31st; the third 011 the 4th August.


The parents were kept well supplied with soaked bread

squeezed dry and soaked Canary seed ; they also had green stuff

and fruit.


The babies were nearly as big as their parents when they

came out and could fly well, though they do not fly about much,

being content to sit very solemnly on their perches. The eye is

surrounded by a whitish ring and the head is much greener than

in the adult birds. They can feed themselves but much prefer

being fed.


Azigust 15 th, 1908.


[The third young bird mentioned above died on August 20th, and the

body was forwarded to the Editor. It was a fine, well-grown bird, and had

evidently been well able to look after itself for some time.]



THE BRITISH RAILS.


By Percy W. Farmborough, F.Z.S.


( Continued from page 247 J.


The Water Rails, which are in the same aviary as the

Laud Rails, are not nearly so wild and retiring in their habits

as are their land relations, and when caught adult seem to take

to captivity fairly well. Like nearly all the long-billed birds

they are rather given to using their bills aggressively when

handled, and seem to especially select the face of their supposed

enemy as the target for their “ dabs.”


The first Water Rail that came into my possession could

hardly be called an aviary bird, or even a cage bird, as it was a

shot bird, injured in the wing, and used to go about the house

moving from room to room at will. This bird would permit

almost anyone to freely handle it without showing any sign of

resentment, and did not in the least mind being picked up and

stroked. Nearly all birds—either wholly or partially of an in¬

sectivorous nature—seem to become rapidly reconciled to con¬

finement even when caught adult, and many will take food from



